Attachment for musical instruments



-(No Model.)

M. E. VERDIER.

ATTACHMENT FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

Patented Apr. 12, 1898.

mmsssess 4 TTORNEYS,

UNITED STATES PATENT @rmcn.

MARY ELIZABETH VERDIER, OF EASTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

ATTACHMENT FOR MUSICAL ENSTRUMENTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 602,248, dated April 12, 1898.

Applioation filed September 24,1897. Serial No. 652,870. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MARY ELIZABETH VER- DIER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Easton, in the county of Northampton and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Attachments for Musical Instruments, of which the following is a full and complete specification, such as will enable those skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to attachments for musical instruments, and more particularly to that class thereof which is designed for use in connection with a violin.

The object of the invention is to provide an attachment of the abovedescribed class which will serve as a guide for the bow of the violin without interfering with the vibrations of the strings thereof and which will necessitate the player holding his bow in the proper position in relation to the strings.

The attachment is principally for the use of beginners or those who have not received proper instruction as to the manner of holding the hand and forearm properly while playing.

A further object of the invention is to provide an attachment that is simple in construction, efficient in operation, and inexpensive to manufacture.

The invention consists in the novel features of construction hereinafter set forth and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l is a plan View of a violin, showing my attachment in proper relation thereto; Fig. 2, a front elevation of said attachment enlarged; Fig. 3, a plan view thereof, and Fig. 4 a side elevation of said attachment.

In the accompanying drawings, a denotes a violin, and b denotes the belly thereof.

(1 d denote, respectively, extended plates which are parallel with each other and at such a distance apart as will readily admit of the free use of the bow between the same, while preventing any deviation from a line of direct control of said bow. These vertical guides (Z61 are preferably formed in the shape of lyres, although their configuration does not form an essential element of my invention. Firmly attached to or rigidly formed with said lyres are the sliding plates ff which have elongated openings 9 g therein, which are provided to facilitate the proper adj ustment of the lyres in relation to the strings of the violin and the attaching-plate.

h 71 denote plates which are so curved at the outer ends as to be capable of grasping the rim of the narrowest portion of the belly of the violin. Such portions of these plates as come in contact with the instrument are preferably fitted with chamois, flannel, or other suitable material in order to preserve the violin by preventing an undue mutilation of the same. Each of these plates has rigidly mounted thereon a screw, as k m, which is adapted to operate in the elongated openings g g? and to receive a nut of any desired configuration, which by binding against the plates ff are designed to hold the various parts in their proper relation. One of these plates, as 72 has an elongated opening therein, as 7L3, which forms a guide-groove for a set-screw or other suitable device 72/ rigidly attached to or firmly connected with the plate h.

The operation of my improved attachment for violins or other similar instruments is as follows: The plates h 7L2 are first attached to the belly of the violin by placing the turned edges of the plates h 7L2 under the upper rim thereof, care being taken that said plates should pass beneath the strings and at a point where it is customary to apply the bow in playing the instrument. The lower portion of said plates being suitably padded will, as aforesaid, prevent scratching and other mutilation of the instrument. Then the guideplates are placed by means of the plates ff and the screws 7c m in position on said attaching-plates, the strings of the violin passing in the open space in each lyre. The attaching-plates are then properly adjusted to the violin and the lyres adjusted in a proper relation to the strings, so as not to interfere with the vibrations thereof and the whole attachment firmly secured in this relation by means of the nuts m which operate upon the screws 70 m and bind firmly against the plates ff which support the lyres d (1 By the means above described it will be readily observed that I have produced an attachment which will accomplish the purposes for which it is designed which is simple in construction and in expensive to manufacture.

The device as herein shown and described will hold the bow of the violin, which, as aforesaid, should be placed between the parallel lyres in such position as will compel the player to hold his hand and wrist properly and will not in any way interfere with the tone of the instrument.

Having fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In an attachment for violins or other similar instruments, two vertically-extended parallel guide-plates unconnected at the top and passing over the strings, sliding plates rigidly attached to the bottom of the same, means substantially as described for attaching the same to a violin or other instrument and means whereby said first mentioned plates maybe properly adjusted with relation to the strings, substantially as described.

2. In an attachment for violins or other similar instruments, the combination with two vertical parallel guide-plates, and plates supporting the same, of laterallymovable plates adapted to be attached to the belly of the violin, and means in conjunction with said supporting and said adjusting plates, whereby said guide-plates may be properly adjusted in relation to the strings, substantially as shown and described.

3. In an attachment for violins or other similar instruments, the combination with two vertical parallel guide-plates, and supporting plates therefor, said supportingplates having elongated openings therein, of attaching-plates, said attaching-plates being provided respectively with an elongated opening, and a pivot, and screws adapted to cooperate with the openings in said supportingplates, and nuts adapted in conjunction with said screws to retain the various parts in proper relation, substantially as shown and described.

t. In an attachment for violins or other similar instruments, the combination with two vertical parallel guide-plates, and supporting plates therefor, said supportingplates having elongated openings therein, of attaching-plates, said attaching-plates being provided respectively with an elongated opening, and a pivot, and screws adapted to cooperate with the openings in said supportingplates, and nuts adapted in conjunction with said screws to retain the various parts in proper relation, said attaching-plates being so turned at the edges as to clasp the rim of the belly of the violin, substantially as shown and described.

5. In an attachment for violins or other similar instruments, the combination with two vertical parallel guide-plates, and supporting plates therefor said supportingplates having elongated openings therein, of attaching-plates, said attaching-plates being provided respectively with an elongated opening, and a pivot, and screws adapted to cooperate with the openings in said supportingplates, and nuts adapted in conjunction with said screws to retain the various parts in proper relation, said attaching-plates being so turned at the edges as to clasp the rim of the belly of the violin, and padded to prevent mutilation of the same, substan tially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name, in presenee of the subscribing witnesses, this 7th day of September, 1897.

MARY ELIZABETH 'VERDIER.

lVitnesses:

JAnEs S. Downs, JOHN M. STEWART. 

